The Journal
From the Blog
Dispatches from the village — written by people who walk these streets every day. History, food, culture and the stories behind the places you love.
Local Life
Community Gardens of Hampstead & Belsize Park: A Guide 2026
Beyond the Heath Hampstead has a quietly thriving network of community growing spaces. Here is where to find them and how to get involved.
Beatrice Thornton · 6 min read
Local Life
Schools in Hampstead NW3: The Complete Guide for Families (2026)
State schools, independent options, admission processes, and what local families actually say about education in the NW3 area, an honest guide without the estate agent gloss.
James Calloway · 15 min read
Local Life
GP Surgeries in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
Registering with a GP in Hampstead, what to expect from the main local surgeries, and how to navigate NHS primary care when the system feels impenetrable.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Local Life
Living in Hampstead: What No One Tells You
The Heath, the village, the pubs, the Georgian streets, everyone knows the appeal of Hampstead. Here is the honest version: what daily life is actually like in NW3.
Beatrice Thornton · 7 min read
Local Life
Hampstead's Hidden Alleys & Courtyards: A Walker's Guide 2026
Flask Walk, Oriel Place, Perrin's Court, Mount Vernon, Hampstead is a village built on lanes and alleys that most visitors never find. Here is where to look.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Local Life
The Architecture of Hampstead: A Street-by-Street Guide 2026
Hampsteads built environment spans four centuries. This guide works through the key periods and the streets that best represent each.
James Calloway · 5 min read
Local Life
Hampstead Arts Festivals: Literature, Music & Ideas 2026
Each autumn the villages cultural institutions combine to present two weeks of talks performances and exhibitions.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Local Life
Pharmacies in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
From the late-night dispensary on South End Road to the trusted independents on Heath Street, where to fill your prescription, get a flu jab, and find a pharmacist who actually listens.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Local Life
The Royal Free Hospital Hampstead: Complete Guide 2026
Everything you need to know about visiting, attending A&E, finding the right department, and getting to the Royal Free, Hampstead's major NHS teaching hospital.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Local Life
Hampstead in Winter: The Complete Seasonal Guide 2026
Most visitors come in summer. The regulars know that winter is when Hampstead reveals itself, in the frost-clear light on the Heath, the warmth of the pubs, and the city laid out below Parliament Hill on a clear December morning.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Local Life
Hampstead Independent Shops: The Complete Guide
In an era of chain homogenisation, Hampstead has held the line. Here is a guide to the independent shops worth seeking out, the bookshop, the cheese merchant, the wine shop, and the rest.
Oliver Hartwell · 13 min read